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Fox Soccer’s Alexi Lalas has doubled down on his demands that US World Cup manager Gregg Berhalter stay on as the team’s coach, despite the now well-known “kicking” incident between him and his wife that was recently revealed.
Berhalter is currently under investigation by US Soccer after publicly admitting that he kicked Rosalind in the legs during an argument the pair had in 1991.
‘If the leaders of the USSF, the United States Soccer Federation believe that Gregg Berhalter is the best person for the job. That should not change with respect to what has happened,’ Lalas said in his State of the Union Podcast.
American player Gio Reyna’s mother, Danielle, admitted to telling US Soccer officials about the 1991 kicking incident. Danielle was a college teammate and roommate of Berhalter’s wife, Rosalind, at Carolina University. North at that time. Her husband, former soccer star Claudio Reyna, was Berhalter’s high school teammate, and the two later played together on the national team.
Alexi Lalas doubles down on wanting Gregg Berhalter to stay on as USMNT head coach
Berhalter is currently without a contract as he is under investigation by the US Soccer Federation.
And that’s what irritated me. And it’s still irritating and angry to me. That, that is now becoming part of the evaluation of Gregg Berhalter. And that is what seems wrong to me, that is what seems unfair to me.
Lalas would go on to say that he still believes national team coaches shouldn’t be able to stay with a team for more than one World Cup cycle, but he’s prepared to change the way he feels to prevent a good man from being screwed over. .’
During his earlier comments, the former defenseman said: “There’s a part of me now that has thought that I really want Gregg Berhalter to stay on as head coach.”
‘This goes against everything I believe in in terms of multiple cycles, but this is where my sadness that I spoke about last week has turned to anger; I’m angry that Gregg Berhalter is going to be denied the opportunity, although I don’t think you should continue for multiple cycles because of what ultimately happened to him. I think he’s BS and I think it’s unfair.’
“I’ve gotten to the point where I actually advocate not letting that win, not letting that happen, it’s the best course of action and I’m like ‘no, we’re not going to let something like that bring a good man down and put him down.’ deny”. an opportunity”.
‘If he was in consideration for the US Men’s National Team coaching job, and by all accounts he was, whatever that percentage is, I hope to God it hasn’t changed.
Lalas #22 made 96 appearances for the United States national team during his playing career.
However, the incident involving Gio Reyna and what happened between him and Berhalter in Qatar, as well as the comments made by both teams, have left many former US national team players and even more fans asking for that Berhalter leave the national team.
Many of those calling for Berhalter’s head, such as former US striker Herculez Gomez, believe the dressing room will never trust Berhalter as manager again.
Former Team USA midfielder Eric Wynalda has also hinted that the whole incident may be the result of issues that began when Claudio Reyna failed to keep Berhalter’s son Sebastian on the Austin FC roster, where Reyna He is the sports director.
It eventually emerged that Reyna’s mother, Danielle, had informed the country’s governing body of the incident in question.
Reyna, who represents Borussia Dortmund at the club level, was expected to be a central figure for the USA at the recent World Cup in Qatar, only to end up being used as a substitute by Berhalter.
Danielle, fueled by frustration over her son’s lack of minutes, made a play that Berhalter said was a clear attempt to “cause an end to my relationship with US Soccer.” He also admitted that the incident was “an embarrassing moment and one I regret to this day.”
American soccer is reportedly eyeing Jose Mourinho as the country’s next potential manager.
It is unclear what the future holds for Berhalter, who has spent the last five years in charge of his country, after his contract expired at the end of 2022.
US Soccer confirmed that it retained a law firm to investigate the 1991 incident, as well as “possible inappropriate behavior towards various members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization.”
The US has reportedly approached other candidates including former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane and has also set its sights on AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho.
Zinedine Zidane reportedly turned down the chance to manage the US national team.